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Single-screens ban KJo’s ‘ADHM’ starring Fawad Khan

After Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA)
banned Pakistani actors from working in India, the Cinema Owners and
Exhibitors’ Association of India (COEAI) has declared not to screen films
featuring Pakistani actors and technicians.

In a circular issued on Friday (Oct. 14), COEAI said, “Keeping
in mind the patriotic feeling and national interest, we request all our
member-exhibitors from (withholding) screening (of) any movie that has
involvement of Pakistani artistes, technicians, etc.”

It is not a permanent decision and the screenings of such
films have been suspended until the time things get better between the two
countries, according to Nitin Datar, president of COEAI. The suspension has
been already initiated in Mumbai territory, which includes Maharashtra and
parts of Gujarat, Goa and Karnataka.

COEAI covers most single-screen theatres in the country. The
Film Federation official website says there are 10,167 single screens in the
country. The scope of the ban remains uncertain as of now, as other industry
bodies are yet to come to a decision. “We are in the process of requesting
other associations connected with film industry to support these sentiments,”
COEAI stated.

Prakash Chaphalkar, member of All-India Multiplex
Association, however, said multiplex operators have not taken any decision in
this regard yet.

Meanwhile, the makers of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ have issued a
statement asserting that the film has been cleared by the Censor Board of Film
Certification (CBFC) and will release on 28 October as announced earlier.